Glossary of terms in soil science
- zeta potential
- See electrokinetic potential.
- zonal soil
- Any one of the great groups of soils having well-developed soil characteristics that reflect the zonal influence of climate and living organisms, mainly vegetation, as active factors of soil genesis. The zonal great soil group was the name of a former taxon that was similar to the present Canadian concept of the great group for example Gray Brown Luvisol
- zone soil
- Area in which the dominant or zonal soils reflect the zonal influence of climate and vegetation, and form a natural land pattern with other soils that exhibit the zonal influence only weakly or not at all. The soil zone is not a taxonomic unit but may be used as a cartographic unit.
- zymogenous flora
- Organisms found in soils in large numbers immediately after the addition of readily decomposable organic materials.